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National Arbor Day is still two months away, but Opelousas is getting a jump start on the annual tree-planting occasion by adding about 60 crepe myrtles to the city.

"Come spring these will be blooming. They will be beautiful," said Raymond Duplechain, director of Keep Opelousas Beautiful, as he oversaw the planting of eight new crepe myrtles along the boulevard in North City Park.

"This will make our park a more pleasant place for people to visit, play, barbecue or just spend time with friends," Duplechain said. ...